Friday 9.15 Due: Assignment 1 Topics: Before the Constitution: The Colonial and Revolutionary Experiences Homework: Assignment 2

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1 AP U.S. Government & Politics Unit 2: Constitutional Underpinnings Readings: Chapters 2 and 3, pp Wednesday 9.13 In Class: Getting to know your Constitution! Homework: Assignment 1 Friday 9.15 Due: Assignment 1 Topics: Before the Constitution: The Colonial and Revolutionary Experiences Homework: Assignment 2 Tuesday 9.19 Due: Assignment 2 Topics: Negotiating toward a Constitution Homework: Assignment 3 Thursday 9.21 Monday 9.25 Due: Assignment 3 Analysis of Federalist papers An Actual Quiz Topics: Democratic principles and constitutional practices Homework: Assignment 4 Due: Assignment 4 Analysis of Federalist Papers and Anti-Federalist papers Federalism Homework: Assignment 5 Wednesday 9.27 Due: Assignment 5 Federalism Homework: Debate Friday! Friday 9.29 Tuesday 10.3 In Class: Debate Friday! Homework: Study for objective and short answer question test Test - Objective and short answer questions Please take the time to read The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States of America found in your textbook on pages Please take notes on the chapter using the headings as organization. No google doc in classroom; just you and your computer or pen and paper. Assignment 1: Due Friday 9.15 A little bit of U.S. history 1. Please read Chapter 2, pages 25-32, and From An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, Charles Beard, and From Charles Beard and the Constitution: A Critical Analysis of 'An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution,'" Robert E. Brown. 2. There are two questions at the end of the readings that I would like you to read and be able to answer/discuss in class. 1

2 Consider the following questions to gain a better understanding of the history (not to be handed in for credit): 1. Make a detailed list of the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation. 2. What was Shays's Rebellion and what role did it play in the push for changing the Articles of Confederation? 3. What specific events, besides Shays's Rebellion, were considered part of the "perceived overall decline in societal order and republican virtue" that increasingly convinced political and economic elites of the need for change in the 1780s? 4. The major principles of American government are: federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, limited government, and judicial review. Write definitions for each one and give an example for each. 5. What is the social contract? In what ways was John Lock's political theory used by the Founding Fathers? 6. Explain the meaning of "inalienable rights," both in theory and in practice. Assignment 2: Due Tuesday 9.19 Actual word-processed work to hand in!! 1. Please read Chapter 2, pages and Federalist #10, and Federalist #23 2. Please take notes on the chapter using the headings as organization. Analysis of some of the key documents related to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Federalist Papers give us insight into the men who wrote the Constitution, and understanding of what they meant in the words they chose. Fabulous readings! Word-processed Work to hand in: Work should be word processed and shared with me through the google wormhole and google docs. Please remember to follow those rules of grammar and include complete sentences, proper punctuation and capitalization for credit. Federalist #10, and Federalist #23: You will find the Federalist papers at "The Library of Congress" web page: Answer the following questions: Federalist #10 James Madison 1. Define faction. In your own words, explain why Madison considers factions to be dangerous to republican government. 2. In paragraphs 3 through 6, Madison presents a number of "straw arguments." These are arguments that are given and then dismissed. What are the two ways in which factions can be cured? 3. What is the most common cause for the development of factions? Is it eliminable? 4. Summarize Madison's four arguments as to why it is not possible to remove the causes of factions. 5. Why do you think Federalist #10 is considered one of the most important documents in U.S. History? Federalist #23 Alexander Hamilton 1. According to Hamilton, what are the main purposes of forming a Union under the Constitution? Make a list in your own words. 2. Do the majority of Hamilton's purposes relate to domestic or to foreign affairs? (Common defense and authority to act indicates that it relates to foreign affairs.) 2

3 Please use U.S. Constitution Questions and chart on compromises for your understanding of the history and to begin to learn the Constitution, as well as the following questions: 1. What was the political significance of the "three-fifths compromise?" 2. What are the specific checks and balances of the three branches of government? 3. In the Constitution, what is the relationship between the nation, state, and local governments? 4. How does the Constitution establish property, commerce, and a strong national government? Why are these important? How do they compare to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence? Assignment 3: Due Thursday 9.21 More and last word-processed work Please read Chapter 2, pages and Federalist #39, Federalist #51, Federalist #70, and Anti-Federalist #38. Please take notes on the chapter using the headings as organization. Word-processed work to hand in: Federalist #39 1. How does Madison define a republic? 2. Why does he think it important to show that the Constitution provides for a republican form of government? 3. What is meant by the federal form of government? What is meant by the national form of government? Federalist #51 1. What is the "great difficulty" with government? Why? 2. What does Madison mean by the statement, "ambition must be made to counteract ambition."? 3. Which branch of government is the strongest? Why? What steps were taken to prevent it from becoming too strong? Federalist #70 1. What is Hamilton's argument against a plural executive? 2. What does he write that a strong executive need? (What is he talking about? Examples?) 3. Try it: What is Hamilton referring to when he writes of the "energy" needed in the executive? Anti-Federalist # How does the author respond to the claim that the men who wrote the Constitution were "an illustrious band of patriots" who spent a long time thinking about and drafting the Constitution? 2. How does the writer respond to the claim that the Constitution must be adopted because the country is in danger of falling into anarchy? 3. What does the writer say about self-interest? Assignment 4: Due Monday Federalism 1. Please read Chapter 3, pages 57-71, "Learning Objectives" handout, as well as the Supreme Court decisions. 2. Don't forget to take notes! Use the "Learning Objectives" to assist you in understanding the principles of federalism as well as the application of it. 3

4 3. As you read each Supreme Court decisions, be sure to understand take the relationship between each Court decision and federalism as it has existed in our political history. Bring your questions to class. Does the Court support the federal government or the state government? Why? When? How? Connect congressional, executive, and judicial actions to constitutional powers (expressed, implied, necessary and proper, and reserved) Assignment 5: Due Wednesday Please read Chapter 3, pages and The Thread of Federalism in the Fabric of American National Government." 2. Please take notes on the chapter using the headings as organization. 3. Look at the chart and fill in with specific programs or evidence from the text. Connect congressional, executive, and judicial actions to constitutional powers (expressed, implied, necessary and proper, and reserved). 4. Read, and in your mind, summarize Sheffield's paper. 5. Find specific examples of "full faith and credit" among specific state actions. 6. Pay attention to current political events, and bring questions to class about your analysis of the use of federal power. Terms: Bicameral Implied powers Full faith and credit clause Privileges and immunities clause Expressed powers Necessary and proper clause Judicial review Supremacy clause Bill of Rights Federalism Reserved power Police power Concurrent powers Constitutionalism Dual federalism Commerce clause Cooperative federalism Grants-in-aid Categorical grants-in-aid Project grants Formula grants Regulated federalism New Federalism Unfunded mandates Devolution States' rights Block Grants 4

5 State sovereignty immunity Legislative supremacy Divided government Executive privilege Writ of habeas corpus AP U.S. Government: Philosophical Foundations Philosophers Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau and Montesquieu all served as influences for the founding fathers of the U.S. Constitution. Remembering their philosophies puts today s issues in perspective with a greater political philosophy. Thomas Hobbes (author, Leviathan) Hobbes believed that the state of nature is chaotic, and in it life is nasty, brutish, and short. In a state of nature, everyone is afraid of everyone else and people are very uncooperative in communal efforts. He believed that the state of nature is so crazy because human nature is to be greedy, selfish, and vain. Hobbes thought men are motivated toward war out of competition and mistrust of other people, but at the same time, desire peace and hope for safety. Hobbes and a Sovereign Ruler The reason we want to leave this state of nature, Hobbes would say, is out of a fear of a violent death and a desire for security. Once we leave the state of nature, the only way to ensure security is to give lots of power to a sovereign. This sovereign keeps things peaceful by making people too afraid of repercussions of disrupting the peace to start any conflicts. John Locke (author, Second Treatise) In contrast, philosopher John Locke is much more optimistic about people than Thomas Hobbes. Locke saw the state of nature as cooperative, and saw people as interested in their own needs, but were not necessarily as war-driven as Hobbes thought. People banded together to get rid of degenerates and were able to mostly keep their own peace. Thus, Locke s reasoning of why we leave the state of nature is based more around the lack of politics rather than a lack of security. Like Hobbes, Locke assumed that the sole right to defend in the state of nature was not enough, so people established a civil society to resolve conflicts in a civil way with help from government in a state of society. Locke advocated governmental separation of powers and believed that revolution is not only a right but also an obligation in some circumstances. He also clearly advocated for a separation of church and state. Checks and Balances Locke thought everyone needed to form a society together where there is a system of checks and balances. The main problem in the state of nature, Locke would say, is that there aren t any impartial judges and there s no clear interpretation of law. Creating a society solves these problems. He also felt that the people should elect a series of representatives to keep things in order, not place all the power in the hands of one. 5

6 Jean-Jacques Rousseau (author, Social Contract) According to Rousseau, a society is legitimate if it is freer than it was in a state of nature. Morality proper, i.e., selfrestraint, can only develop through careful education in a civil state. Humans "in a state of Nature" may act with all of the ferocity of an animal. He believed that everyone is enslaved to each other under the original contracts and everyone is also a slave to acquisition and protection of private property. Since labor as a commodity and the right to private property don t really exist in a state of nature, people are freer without it. Rousseau believed we d all be freer if we didn t own property and if we decided what rules we wanted to follow based on a consensus. Rousseau on Locke and the Social Contract Rousseau felt Locke s idea of a representative democracy doesn t work because the representatives only represent their own experiences and interests, not the common good of all society. He felt the best social contract is one in which everyone participates in politics. Summary, Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau Rousseau s ideas for a legitimate society are liberty and the common good. Locke s test for legitimacy is to make sure that individual interests are protected with a heavy emphasis on property. And Hobbes felt that a good society is ruled by one person who instills enough fear in citizens to keep them from breaking rules. Baron de Montesquieu, Charles-Louis de Secondat (author, The Spirit of the Laws) He saw despotism, in particular, as a standing danger for any government not already despotic, and argued that it could best be prevented by a system in which different bodies exercised legislative, executive, and judicial power, and in which all those bodies were bound by the rule of law. This theory of the separation of powers had an enormous impact on liberal political theory, and on the framers of the constitution of the United States of America. 6

Chapter 1: Principles of Government Section 1

Chapter 1: Principles of Government Section 1 Objectives 1. Define government and the basic powers every government holds. 2. Describe the four defining characteristics of a state. 3. Identify four theories